What the righteous are to do when evil is dominant

What the righteous remnant are to do when the power of evil is
thus dominant in Emmanuel's land, Psalm 11 treats of. Psalms 11-15,
as I have already remarked, give the thoughts and feelings of the
remnant at that time (that is, consequent on the state of things
spoken of in Psalms 9, 10). I will now trace the outline of these
five psalms. Psalm 11 presents to us the righteous repelling the
idea of quailing, as void of resource, before the godless
wickedness of those who fear not God. He trusts in Jehovah. Still
the wicked, with all will, seek the destruction of those who are
true of heart. And if all human resource fails all that was a
ground on which hope could be built for the earth, what was the
righteous to do? Jehovah is as stable as ever. He is in His holy
temple has His place on earth, which faith owns, let it be ever so
desolate; and His throne is in heaven: no evil can enter there, and
it rules over all.

But there is more than this. If He abide in sure repose,
because Almighty and far above all evil, in heaven, He looks on the
earth He governs it, for this, not the assembly's heavenly portion,
is our subject here and indeed in all the Old Testament. His eyes
behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. This is a most solemn
and consoling truth for those in trial. But the ways of God in
government are still further revealed. The Lord tries the
righteous: so the history of Job, a picture of what happens to
Israel, teaches us. The present state of things is not in any way a
revelation of the government of God. Faith knows God has the upper
hand, and that all things work together for good to those that love
Him; but immediate government, so that the present state of things
should show the result of God's estimate of good and evil here
below, is not in exercise. If it were so, no evil could be
allowed. The righteous would flourish, and all he does prosper. But
it is not so. The assembly, meanwhile, has her portion out of the
world, has her place of abode where Christ has gone to prepare her
one. She suffers with Him and will reign with Him. But as to all
His saints, He tries them; as to the wicked, whom He abhors, upon
them He will rain judgment, snares, and fire and brimstone; for the
righteous Jehovah loves righteousness, His countenance beholds the
upright. Here is the clear ground for faith then, when the remnant
are in trial. God beholds He tries the righteous, and will in due
time execute judgment. It involves this: the righteous Jehovah
loves righteousness.